KNOXVILLE — Tennessee’s most up-to-date draft class mirrored properly on the soccer program’s present trajectory.
The Vols had the identical quantity of gamers drafted throughout this previous weekend’s NFL Draft in Las Vegas because it did within the earlier 4 drafts mixed and essentially the most in a single draft since 2017, sending 5 gamers to the subsequent stage.
That quantity ranks fifth amongst SEC groups.
Defensive again Alontae Taylor (New Orleans Saints), broad receiver Velus Jones Jr. (Chicago Bears), defensive lineman Matthew Butler (Las Vegas Raiders), offensive lineman Cade Mays (Carolina Panthers) and defensive again Theo Jackson (Tennessee Titans) had been the 5 former Vols that can swimsuit up on Sunday’s subsequent fall.
Taylor, who went within the second spherical because the forty ninth general choice Friday, grew to become Tennessee’s highest drafted defensive again since Eric Berry was picked fifth general by the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in 2010. He’ll be part of former Vols Alvin Kamara, Marquez Callaway, Shy Tuttle, Bryce Thompson and Ethan Wolf on the Saints’ roster.
“Every time my cellphone began buzzing, I jumped up and quieted everybody down,” Taylor mentioned, in accordance with a Tennessee press launch. “It’s wonderful simply figuring out my dream is coming true. Every time they introduced my title, my grandma is just not right here and handed away, and I had an image sitting in entrance of me and I gave her a kiss. She was the primary individual I made certain I gave a kiss to earlier than hugging my mother.”
A Manchester, Tennessee native, Taylor was part of former head coach Jeremy Pruitt’s 2018 signing class as a 4-star prospect out of Espresso County Central Excessive Faculty. He performed 5 seasons for the Vols, showing in 45 video games and beginning within the secondary in 31.
He began in all 12 video games for the Vols in 2021, recording a career-high 60 tackles, six cross break-ups and two interceptions, together with one returned 55-yards for a landing in Tennessee’s 45-42 win at Kentucky on Nov. 6 at Kroger Area in Lexington.
Taylor graded out as one of many high 4 cornerbacks within the SEC, per Professional Soccer Focus.
Jones Jr. wasn’t far behind in his choice by the Bears at No. 71 general within the third spherical as Tennessee grew to become certainly one of simply 5 faculties within the nation and two within the SEC to have a defensive again and broad receiver drafted inside the first three rounds, becoming a member of Georgia, Penn State, Baylor and Cincinnati.
Jones Jr. transferred to Tennessee from Southern California forward of the 2020 season the place he made his mark on offense at receiver and as an elusive return specialist on particular groups, which seemingly appealed to Chicago.
As a senior in 2021, Jones Jr. thrived underneath first yr head coach Josh Heupel, changing into the one participant in school soccer to tally greater than 800 receiving yards, 200 punt return yards and 600 kickoff return yards through the Vols’ 7-6 marketing campaign. These efforts earned him SEC Co-Particular Groups Participant of the Yr accolades in addition to first-team All-SEC choice.
Butler went because the a hundred and seventy fifth general choose within the fifth spherical to the Raiders Saturday, changing into the primary former Tennessee defensive lineman to be drafted by the franchise.
“After we had been in a position to exit for the Professional Bowl festivities and seeing these surrounding areas of Vegas with the homes, the mountains and desert, it was actually stunning,” Butler mentioned. “I actually mentioned to myself, ‘I may see myself being right here for certain and lo and behold, right here I come.”
Butler signed with Tennessee within the 2017 recruiting cycle and performed in 53 video games throughout his collegiate profession, however his greatest season was this previous one, the place he totaled 152 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 9 sacks.
Cade Mays was thought of certainly one of Tennessee’s largest switch additions when he left Georgia after two seasons and returned to Knoxville, the place he was a 5-star standout at Knoxville Catholic Excessive Faculty, to play for the hometown Vols.
Following the previous two seasons beginning 17 on Tennessee’s offensive line, Mays allowed only one sack within the 493 snaps he performed on the deal with place. He was drafted by the Panthers within the sixth spherical because the 199th choose.
“I’m going to return to work day-after-day and I’m going to offer this group every thing I’ve received,” Mays mentioned at a Charlotte teleconference after being picked up Saturday. “I’m going to be a fantastic man within the locker room. I’m excited to get to know these guys and am wanting ahead to it.”
Jackson will likely be taking part in his professional soccer in the identical metropolis he grew up in.
A former 3-star standout at Nashville’s Overton Excessive Faculty and 2017 Tennessee signee, Jackson was chosen by the Titans because the 204th choose within the sixth spherical. It’s the first time since 2002 that the Vols have had multiple defensive again to be featured in the identical draft.
As a veteran within the Vols’ secondary in 2021, Jackson completed his senior marketing campaign with 78 whole tackles and 9 tackles for loss. He was chargeable for 12 cross breakups and his lone interception was returned for a rating in Tennessee’s 45-21 rout of Vanderbilt on Nov. 27 at Neyland Stadium.
“I’m not going to deceive you, I’m going by way of so many feelings proper now,” Jackson mentioned. “It’s the greatest feeling, to develop up in Nashville, to go to high school at Tennessee after which come again residence for professional ball, it’s actually…I can’t even consider the phrase to say proper now. I’m simply so excited and so desirous to get to work.”
Jackson will likely be certainly one of three former Tennessee gamers on the Titans’ roster with lengthy snapper Morgan Cox and broad receiver Josh Malone being the others.